Associated Press

Radford's Art Parakhouski shoots from the free-throw line on Wednesday at Greensboro Coliseum.

Photos by the Associated Press

Radford coach Brad Greenberg works with his basketball team during practice at the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday. The Highlanders play UNC today.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Nothing like the NCAA basketball tournament when it comes to producing opportunities to reconnect with the long-lost friends and family.

Kenny Thomas, a team leader as Radford University makes its first tournament appearance in 11 years, started receiving text messages before the matchup with No. 1 North Carolina faded from the television screen on the CBS pairings show Sunday.

"I got about 20," he said. "I didn't even look at all of them."

Not being rude or anything, but he knew what they wanted.

"It's just been crazy," the senior from Richmond, Va., said "Everybody wants tickets. I've had to tell them I'll get back to them."

Some of the petitioners probably shouldn't spend a whole lot of time waiting by the phone.

"Man, I'm not going to lie. I got a call from an 818 number," he said. "I was like, where in the world is 818? I didn't even listen to the message; I just deleted it."

Players were allotted six tickets each for today's 2:50 p.m. game at Greensboro Coliseum. For Eric Hall, another one of the Radford seniors, that was a skimpy allowance. Hall is a local boy. The calls and texts have been rolling in waves. He, too, was hearing from folks with whom he had relationships of questionable closeness.

"Too many," he said. "That's what I hate. Then I'm like, I want them to come, but at the same time, there are people who have watched me all year but I still can't help them out. I only get six tickets."

Radford has been deluged with publicity both local and national since winning the Big South Conference tournament and earning that league's automatic bid two weeks ago. For most, this is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience players from lesser powers such as Radford hope and pray for.

There's also no denying that some members of the Highlanders traveling party arrived at the arena with something of the wide-eyed look of folks who just arrived in Manhattan after a lifetime in Spivey's Corner.

"We just had a police escort," said a flabbergasted Cole Wilder, home address Wytheville, Va. "I mean, all the cameras -- this is awesome. I'm a long way from George Wythe."

Much of the hoopla has been going on ever since the Highlanders won the Big South.

"The whole thing, unbelievable, the conference tournament when everybody rushed the court -- I've never been a part of something like that," Wilder said.

They'd really be a part of something if they could figure out how to pull off the first 1-16 upset in tournament history this afternoon. Radford coach Brad Greenberg is encouraging such thinking.

"But I want my guys going out there thinking they're about to do something that's never been done before," the second-year Highlanders coach said. "What other attitude do you want to have when you go in a game?"

Not that any spirits needed lifting in the Highlanders' camp, but one development Wednesday did provide a jolt of encouragement. Before addressing reporters Wednesday, Carolina coach Roy Williams anticipated the first question would deal with the playing status of his point guard, the sore-toed Ty Lawson.

"There's a huge, huge possibility -- probability -- that Ty will not play tomorrow," Williams said. " ... Things would have to change drastically before I change my mind on that."

Then, after a quick glance at the assembly, Williams said, "Now if that's all you want to know, I guess we can leave now."

That's the way it is when you're the top seed. You can afford to smile and tell a joke or two.

One reason for grins on the Radford side that the Highlanders are at what passes at this time of year for full health. They've also been playing their best basketball. Nobody's going overboard with grandiose pronouncements and predictions, however.

All know that only the most reckless gamblers inked in Radford going to the next round on their brackets.

"Their starting five has the most production of anybody in the nation," Thomas said. "We understand that. There's no underestimation or anything like that. We know we have to play an awesome defensive game to have a chance."

Radford may not have seen athletes the caliber of some of the Tar Heel standouts since suffering December losses at West Virginia and Wake Forest.

The Highlanders have seen an offense that operates at hyper-speed like UNC.

Radford took two of three from VMI and its giddy-up attack. Similarities?

"Carolina is a little bit more organized and a little bit more patient, but not much," Radford's Phillip Martin said.

It's hard to be patient as a player when you're fired up out of your mind.

"I knew it was going to be a madhouse at times," Thomas said. "We just got off the podium [at the press conference], man. The feeling is just wonderful. I don't know, I guess this is our little minute of fame. We're going to try to keep it going as long as we can."